C♭ Phrygian at a glance
Phrygian is the dark, exotic side of minor - think flamenco, metal, hip-hop and middle-eastern music. The flat second creates instant tension over the tonic. Built on the root C♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C♭ D𝄫 E𝄫 F♭ G♭ A𝄫 B𝄫 |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W W W H W W |
| Chords in the key | C♭mD𝄫E𝄫F♭mG♭°A𝄫B𝄫m |
Chords in the C♭ Phrygian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C♭ Phrygian on the piano
Improvisation drone · C♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C♭ Phrygian uses one black key (G♭) and six white. C♭, D𝄫, E𝄫, F♭, A𝄫 and B𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call B, C, D, E, G and A.
C♭ · D𝄫 · E𝄫 · F♭ · G♭ · A𝄫 · B𝄫
Play C♭ Phrygian on the online piano
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C♭ Phrygian on the guitar
C♭ Phrygian - fr 0–12
C♭ Phrygian on the staff
Notes of the C♭ Phrygian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D𝄫 | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | E𝄫 | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | F♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | G♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | A𝄫 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | B𝄫 | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes C♭ Phrygian different
Phrygian is a minor mode whose second degree sits only a half step above the tonic, and that flat second is all that separates it from natural minor. The half step from ♭2 down to 1 gives the mode its Spanish and metal colour, and the major chord on ♭II, a half step above the tonic, is its signature cadence. It's the third mode of the major scale, so it shares its notes with the major scale a major third below its root. Its v chord is diminished, so it can't cadence the way a minor key usually does. On C♭, C♭ Phrygian has D𝄫 where C♭ Natural Minor has D♭; every other note is shared with C♭ Natural Minor (C♭ D♭ E𝄫 F♭ G♭ A𝄫 B𝄫).
Modes from C♭ Phrygian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the C♭ Phrygian scale
The diatonic chords of C♭ Phrygian are: i = C♭m, II = D𝄫, III = E𝄫, iv = F♭m, v° = G♭°, VI = A𝄫, vii = B𝄫m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C♭ Phrygian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Phrygian is the dark, exotic side of minor - think flamenco, metal, hip-hop and middle-eastern music. The flat second creates instant tension over the tonic.
Practice tips
Lean on the flat second to immediately establish the phrygian sound. Great drill: alternate the root and flat second back and forth as a pedal.
Formula & step pattern
The C♭ Phrygian scale follows a minor scale with a flat second degree (H-W-W-W-H-W-W). Step pattern: H - W - W - W - H - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear C♭ Phrygian
Start with the music described above: listen for C♭ Phrygian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the C♭ Phrygian scale?
The C♭ Phrygian scale contains C♭, D𝄫, E𝄫, F♭, G♭, A𝄫 and B𝄫.
What is the formula for the C♭ Phrygian scale?
C♭ Phrygian follows a minor scale with a flat second degree (H-W-W-W-H-W-W).
Is C♭ Phrygian a major or minor scale?
C♭ Phrygian is a phrygian scale. Dark minor mode with a flat second - Spanish, flamenco and metal flavour.
What chords belong to the C♭ Phrygian scale?
The diatonic chords of C♭ Phrygian are C♭m, D𝄫, E𝄫, F♭m, G♭°, A𝄫, B𝄫m.
Which genres use C♭ Phrygian?
Phrygian is the dark, exotic side of minor - think flamenco, metal, hip-hop and middle-eastern music. The flat second creates instant tension over the tonic.
How do you play the C♭ Phrygian scale on the piano?
On the piano C♭ Phrygian uses one black key (G♭) and six white. C♭, D𝄫, E𝄫, F♭, A𝄫 and B𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call B, C, D, E, G and A.
What is the difference between C♭ Phrygian and C♭ Natural Minor?
On C♭, C♭ Phrygian has D𝄫 where C♭ Natural Minor has D♭; every other note is shared with C♭ Natural Minor (C♭ D♭ E𝄫 F♭ G♭ A𝄫 B𝄫).
How do I practise the C♭ Phrygian scale?
Lean on the flat second to immediately establish the phrygian sound. Great drill: alternate the root and flat second back and forth as a pedal.